Alkali metal-wax micropackets for alkali metal handling

ABSTRACT

A method of making alkali-metal vapor cells by first forming microscale-wax micropackets with alkali metals inside allows fabrication of vapor cells at low cost and in a batch fabricated manner. Alkali metals are enclosed in a chemically inert wax to preform alkali metal-wax micropackets, keeping the alkali metals from reacting with the ambient surroundings during the vapor cell fabrication. This enables the deposition of precise amounts of pure alkali metal inside the vapor cells. Laser ablation of the alkali metal-wax micropackets provides a simple and effective way of releasing the enclosed metal. The method reduces the cost of making chip-scale atomic clocks and allows shipping of alkali vapor packets without contamination issues, thereby creating a technology for alkali-metal vendors to provide small packets of alkali metals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to the filingdate of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/687,306, filed Jun. 6,2005, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein byreference. This application is also related to commonly owned U.S.provisional application Ser. No. 60/679,979, entitled RADIOACTIVE DECAYBASED STABLE TIME OR FREQUENCY REFERENCE SIGNAL SOURCE and filed May 12,2005, the entire disclosure of which is also incorporated herein byreference.

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a structure and method forfabrication of vapor cells adapted for use in making chip-scale atomicclocks (CSACs) via wafer-scale micro-machining processes.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art

The need for more and more precise and stable time-keeping for a widevariety of applications has been on the rise, particularly inapplications such as digital communications, global positioning systems(GPS) and, more critically, for security and identification applicationssuch as friend-or-foe (IFF) communications.

There are a wide variety of potential applications for enhanced time orfrequency reference signal sources, which may be referred to as timebases or clocks. One example of the need for precise, stable timekeeping is found in the development of enhanced, jam-resistant GPSreceivers. The signals broadcast by GPS satellites are extremely low inpower, making the GPS receivers highly susceptible to intentionaljamming signals as well as to unintentional interference from sourcestransmitting in the same frequency band. For example, some GPS signalsare transmitted over a wide bandwidth, making them considerably lesssusceptible to jamming than normal GPS signals. Typically, however,these broadband signals incorporate a code that repeats only every sevendays, so that broadband receivers usually have to first lock onto thenormal signal, and this eliminates the anti-jam advantage of thelarger-bandwidth signal. If the broadband receiver's local clock werecapable of determining the time to within 1 millisecond (ms) overseveral days, its search for the GPS signals would be narrowed so thereceiver could, theoretically, lock onto the broadband signal directly,without first having to acquire the normal signal. Thus, if a moreaccurate clock were available, the receiver would be significantly moreresistant to jamming.

Three important characteristics are necessary to realize a ‘good’ timebase or clock: (1) long and short-term frequency stability (usuallymeasured in Allan variance and phase noise of the frequency source); (2)physical size of the clock; and (3) the power consumed by the clock.Historically (and mainly to satisfy criterion 1), clocks based onelectromagnetic oscillations of atoms have provided the most precisemethod of timing events lasting longer than a few minutes. So preciseare these “atomic” clocks, that in 1967 the second was redefined to bethe duration required for a cesium (Cs) atom in a particular quantumstate to undergo exactly 9,192,631,770 oscillations. While the long-termprecision of atomic clocks is unsurpassed, the size and power requiredto run them has prevented their use in a variety of areas, particularlyin those applications requiring portability or battery operation. TheNIST F-1 primary standard, for example, occupies an entire table andconsumes several hundred watts when operating. The state of the art incompact commercial atomic frequency references is rubidium (Rb)vapor-cell devices with volumes near 100 cm³ operating on a few watts ofpower; such references cost about $1,000.00 USD.

Recently, miniature atomic clocks have been based onMicroelectromechanical systems (MEMS) technology which offers advantagessuch as smaller size, an improvement in the device power usage due toreduced parasitic heat dissipation (as the heat lost to the environmentvia the device surface is smaller), and high-volume, wafer-basedproduction methods, which may substantially reduce cost. In spite ofthese advantages, the power consumed by currently envisioned MEMS-basedatomic clocks hasn't been reduced enough to permit their use inapplications such as portable battery operated systems in long-termoperations, including, for example, week-long missions for the military,months-long working of communication base units or even year/decade longoperation for sensor node applications.

Prior art atomic clocks typically include a physics package, which isthe heart of the clock and contains an atomic (usually Rb or Cs) vaporcell that acts as a frequency reference to determine the clock outputfrequency.

Solid state resonators (such as RF resonators based on quartz andsilicon) are portable and energy efficient and so are often used inwrist watches and the like, but cannot provide an adequate referencesignal because they have observable and random aging effects which causetheir frequencies to shift in a non-predictable manner.

Stable frequency sources are extremely important for communicationsystems for civil and military applications, and for sensor stabilityfor long-term operation of sensor nodes. Considerable work has been donein the last few years to realize miniaturized atomic clock systems orchip-scale atomic clocks (CSACs) demonstrating potential for portabilityand low power operation. Low operation power and size of the CSACs arerequired for portability, whereas good short and long-term stability andlow cost of fabrication are essential to ensure applicability in a widevariety of markets.

The frequency stability of atomic clocks is based on transitions betweenthe well-defined ground state hyperfine levels of alkali atoms such asrubidium (Rb) or cesium (Cs). The physics package of an atomic clockconsists of alkali metal atoms enclosed in a vapor cell so that theatomic resonance is excited and interrogated by an RF local oscillatorabout a frequency that corresponds to the hyperfine energy difference inthe ground state of atoms.

The vapor cells of CSACs use sealed micromachined cavities to enclosethe highly reactive alkali metals (such as rubidium—Rb and cesium—Cs) ina buffer gas composition. In addition, since the size of the vapor cellsare very small (of the order of mm³), the buffer gas pressure andcomposition have to be optimized to serve the two important purposes ofcreating an inert ambient environment for the alkali metals, andmaximizing the coherence lifetimes of the atoms by decreasing theireffective wall relaxation., in turn reducing the linewidth of thehyperfine absorption.

The use of highly reactive and low melting alkali metals and filling thevapor cells with the optimum pressure and composition of buffer gasesthus impose a MEMS packaging challenge. The fabrication of MEMS vaporcells so far has involved anodic bonding between micromachined siliconcavities and Pyrex glass. Since anodic bonding requires high-temperature(˜400° C.) processing, whereas the melting points of alkali metals aremuch lower (Rb ˜39.3 ° C., Cs ˜28.4 ° C. at 1 atm), the alkali-metal andbuffer gases cannot be placed inside the cavities before the bondingprocess reliably. Knappe, et al, have tried to solve this problem byin-situ fabrication of the alkali metals from high temperature reactionof metal hydrides, metal chlorides and/or metal hydroxides duringbonding. This can lead to residual impurities that cause long termdrifts of the hyperfine resonance frequency. Lee, et al, havedemonstrated a method of interconnecting the cavities usingmicromachined channels, and parallel filling after vapor cell formation.However isolation of the cells from each other and dicing requires theuse of a wax-sealing, which leads to low yield, and requires bulkrubidium delivery, which is inefficient and results in uncontrolleddelivery of rubidium in each vapor cell.

An alternative to using buffer gas to increase the coherence life timeis to use a thin and uniform (or monolayers) of wall coating ofmaterials such as Teflon (used in hydrogen maser frequency references),long chain alkanes (such as n-tetracontane—a component of paraffin wax),or some alkynated silanes (used in alkali metal frequency standards), asreported by Frueholtzs, et al and Sagiv, et al. However, the stringentrequirements for the quality and apparatus needed for formation of wallcoating is currently not compatible with MEMS processing. Furthermore,alkylated silanes have been shown to degrade over long-term operationsdirectly affecting the long-term stability of the atomic clock system.

There is a need, therefore, for a structure and method for reliablefabrication of vapor cells adapted for economical use in makingchip-scale atomic clocks (CSACs) via wafer-scale micro-machiningprocesses that overcomes the problems with the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a structure and methodfor fabrication of vapor cells adapted for use in making chip-scaleatomic clocks (CSACs) via wafer-scale micro-machining processes adaptedto overcome the problems with the prior art.

Briefly, in accordance with the present invention, the applicants notedthat no such adverse effects have been reported in connection with theuse of long chain alkanes in atomic clock vapor cells. In thisembodiment, chemically inert alkanes, particularly long chain alkanes(called n-paraffins) are used to enclose highly reactive Rb inside waxto make Rubidium-Wax micropackets to form vapor cells for CSACs. Inaccordance with the present invention, a method for fabricating vaporcells for chip-scale atomic clocks (CSACs) uses wafer-scalemicromachining processes.

Alkali metals are enclosed in a chemically inert wax to preform alkalimetal-wax micropackets, keeping the alkali metals from reacting with theambient surroundings during the vapor cell fabrication. This enables thedeposition of precise amounts of pure alkali metal inside the vaporcells. Laser ablation of the alkali metal-wax micropackets provides asimple and effective way of releasing the enclosed metal. Apart from thehigh level of purity of the alkali metals in the resulting vapor cells,this method holds promise for inexpensive and flexible manufacturing ofvapor cells, as well as easy handling of alkali metals used for avariety of applications other than for CSACs.

The process for Alkali-Metal Wax Micropacket Fabrication, includes asequence of steps; first, a 1 micrometer (μm) thick layer of silicondioxide (SiO₂) is deposited on a 4-inch silicon wafer used as a handlesubstrate. Through-wafer holes are etched through the handle substrateusing deep reactive ion etching (DRIE) on the back side to serve as etchholes for the release process.

A thin uniform layer of wax is deposited on top of the SiO₂ layer in thefollowing way. The handling wafer is placed on a hotplate with a levelsurface inside a nitrogen ambience glove box with low levels of oxygenand humidity within a few parts per million. A measured amount of solidwax is placed on the wafer, melted and spread using a microscope glassslide. The wafer is held above the melting point for a few minutes andrapidly cooled to ensure a uniform thickness (˜0.25 mm) of the resultingwax layer. An array of pins is poked down into in the wax layer toindent, impress or form wax dimples or divides by heating the wafer tothe wax softening temperature. The pins or other indenting membersdefine evenly spaced indentations or divides separated by sidewallshaving a selected spacing and orientation.

Precise amounts of liquid Rb⁸⁷ are micro-pipetted onto the waxindentations or divides using an X-Y-stage and a syringe pump to definea selected number of individual liquid Rb⁸⁷ segments or balls.

A wax enclosure is then formed by enclosing or sandwiching the Rb⁸⁷segments between upper and lower indented, wax-layered wafers. An upperindented, wax layered wafer assembly also comprises a substantiallyidentical silicon dioxide (SiO₂) layer deposited on a 4-inch siliconhandle wafer that has a plurality of evenly spaced through-wafer holes(or vents or vias) etched through using deep reactive ion etching (DRIE)on the back side to serve as etch holes for the release process. Upperwafer assembly also has substantially identically spaced indentations ordivides separated by sidewalls having the same selected spacing andorientation as for the lower wafer assembly described above.

The lower wafer assembly carries the Rb⁸⁷ segments in the divides. In asealing step, the wax layers of the upper and lower wafer assemblies areheat sealed to one another at the wax's pre-defined softeningtemperature to ensure that the Rb⁸⁷ is completely enclosed by the waxlayers of the upper and lower layered wafer assemblies.

The wafer-sandwich is then dipped in hydrofluoric acid (HF) to releasethe sealed, multi-segment wax enclosure from the silicon handlers.Chemical exposure to HF for extended intervals (e.g., overnight) showsno damage to the wax enclosure or the enclosed Rb87 segments. Finally,individual Rb-wax micropackets are formed by segmenting or dicing thewax enclosure to provide separate or individual Rb-wax micropackets,each containing a single Rb87 segment.

Alternative embodiments of the method are also possible to fabricatealkali metal-wax micropackets. Another simple method would be toevaporate a thin layer of wax directly on precise quantities of alkalimetals or dip coating alkali metals by rapidly immersing in molten wax.

The use of alkali metal-wax micropackets to enclose alkali metals hasthe following advantages. First, it allows for the formation of purealkali metal inside the final vapor cells. This is extremely importantand currently the main limitation for the long term stability of CSACs.Second, it results in precise amounts of alkali metal needed for eachtype of vapor cell. This ensures reproducibility in the vapor cellperformance and keeps the wastage of expensive alkali metals to aminimum. Third, the ease of fabrication and handling holds potential forinexpensive fabrication of CSAC vapor cells. The Rb-wax micropacketsenable decoupling of MEMS fabrication for the rest of the vapor cell(such as cell fabrication, anodic bonding and buffer gas filling) fromthe stringent requirements of handling alkali metals. Additionally, forapplications outside of CSAC, the use of Rb-wax micropackets provides aneasy, inexpensive and safe way for packaging and transporting preciseamounts of pure alkali metals.

A simple method of forming vapor cells using the Rb-wax micropacketsbegins with a substantially planar Pyrex wafer bonded to a low stresssilicon (Si_(x)N_(y)) substrate. The wafer includes a plurality ofspaced cavities formed by bulk-micromachining of the silicon and anodicbonding of the thermally matched Pyrex wafer in an ambient environmentthat contains the required composition and pressure of buffer gases.

A Rb-wax micropacket array is thermally bonded to the silicon nitride(Si_(x)N_(y)) membrane side of a wafer-scale cavity array and theenclosed Rb is released into the cavity by laser ablating theSi_(x)N_(y)membrane through the glass wafer. The laser used for ablationis mounted on an X-Y stage to precisely ablate the wax in eachmicropacket to release the Rb in a controllable way into the cavity.Laser ablation thus offers a fast and effective way of deliveringprecise amount of Rb into the vapor cells.

Laser ablation may be done using a Coherent™ 355 nm laser system, andfor large ablation times (>5 sec), the wax is ablated all the waythrough and results in the Rb reacting immediately with the atmosphere.For ablation times of ˜4 sec, the Rb is released and the wax forms acoating around the cavity. Although the effects of the wax wall coatingremain unverified, one can conjecture that by carefully optimizing theablation times and laser parameters, it is possible to form a thinuniform coating along the walls of the cavity that would result inincreasing the coherence lifetimes of the alkali metals inside the vaporcells formed when using this process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and additional features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent upon consideration of the followingdetailed description of a specific embodiment thereof, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like referencenumerals in the various figures are utilized to designate likecomponents, in which:

FIG. 1 a is a schematic diagram illustrating a preliminary step in theprocess for making Rb-wax micropackets, an SiO₂ layer is grown on ahandler or wafer, a DRIE process is used to etch holes through thewafer, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 1 b is a schematic diagram illustrating a second step in theprocess for making Rb-wax micropackets, a wax layer is deposited anddivides or indentations are defined therein to receive Rb segmentsdeposited with a micropipette, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 1 c is a schematic diagram illustrating a third step in the processfor making Rb-wax micropackets, a substantially identical upper waferassembly is positioned over the lower wafer assembly carrying the Rbsegments, and the two wafer assemblies are sealed together at waxsoftening temperature to enclose the Rb segments, in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 1 d is a schematic diagram illustrating a fourth step in theprocess for making Rb-wax micropackets, the now sealed wax enclosure isreleased from the wafer assemblies in an HF environment, in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 2 a is a schematic diagram illustrating a preliminary step in theprocess for making Rb vapor cells from Rb-wax micropackets, cavities areformed in the silicon substrate and an anodic bond to Pyrex is performedin a vacuum chamber with buffer gas, in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 b is a schematic diagram illustrating an intermediate step in theprocess for making Rb vapor cells from Rb-wax micropackets, wax-Rbmicropackets are attached on the Si_(x)N_(y)membranes by heating the waxto softening temperature, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 c is a schematic diagram illustrating a finishing step in theprocess for making Rb vapor cells from Rb-wax micropackets, a laser onan X-Y stage is used to ablate the Si_(x)N_(y)membrane and wax and thenreleases Rb into the cavity to form an Rb vapor cell, in accordance withthe present invention;

FIG. 3 a, illustrates, a scanning electron microscope (SEM) view of avapor cell formed using the processes of FIGS. 1 a-2 c, in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 3 b schematically illustrates, in cross section, aSi_(x)N_(y)membrane supporting or carrying an adhered Rb-wax micropacketpositioned adjacent the cavity positioned to form an Rb vapor cell, inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 c illustrates, photographically, from the Pyrex side, an Rb vaporcell showing the Rb, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 a is a schematic diagram illustrating a preliminary step in theprocess for making Rb vapor cells from Rb-wax micropackets enclosed inglass tube, a wax-Rb micropacket is inserted into the hollow interior orlumen of a thin glass tube, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 b is a schematic diagram illustrating a next step in the processfor making Rb vapor cells from Rb-wax micropackets enclosed in glasstube, the glass tube is pumped down and backfilled with buffer gas, inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 c is a schematic diagram illustrating a next step in the processfor making Rb vapor cells from Rb-wax micropackets enclosed in glasstube, the glass tube is segmented or glass blown to form individualglass cells with each cell enclosing a single wax-Rb micropacket, inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 4 d is a schematic diagram illustrating individual glass cells madeusing the process steps of FIGS. 4 a-4 c, with each cell enclosing asingle wax-Rb micropacket, in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a photograph illustrating first and second exemplaryindividual glass cells made using the process steps of FIGS. 4 a-4 c,with each cell enclosing a wax-Rb micropacket, in accordance with thepresent invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Turning now to a more detailed description of the invention, the processfor Alkali-Metal Wax Micropacket Fabrication, Figs 1 a-1 d schematicallyoutline the sequence of process steps to form alkali metal waxmicropackets.

Referring to FIG. 1 a, a 1 μm thick layer of silicon dioxide (SiO₂) 10is deposited on a 4-inch silicon wafer 12 used as a handle substrate.Through-wafer holes 14 are etched through handle substrate 12 using deepreactive ion etching (DRIE) on the back side to serve as etch holes forthe release process.

A thin uniform layer of wax 16 is deposited on top of the SiO₂ layer 10in the following way. The handling wafer 12 is placed on a hotplate witha level surface inside a nitrogen ambience glove box with low levels ofoxygen and humidity within a few part per million. A measured amount ofsolid wax 16 is placed on the wafer 12, melted and spread using amicroscope glass slide. The wafer is held above the melting point for afew minutes and rapidly cooled to ensure a uniform thickness (˜0.25 mm)of the resulting wax layer 16. An array of pins is poked or pusheddownwardly into the wax layer to indent, impress or form waxindentations, dimples or divides 18 after heating the wafer 12 to thewax softening temperature. The pins or other indenting members defineevenly spaced dimples, indentations or divides 18 separated by sidewalls19 having a selected spacing and orientation. The divides 18 are madeusing pogo pin array after the wax 16 is heated to the wax softeningtemperature. For example, if wax layer 16 is two mm thick, each dimpleor divide 18 may be one to one and a half mm deep. The exact dimensionsof the divide 18 is less critical since the wax will melt around therubidium to sandwich it in the steps described below.

Precise amounts of liquid rubidium (e.g., Rb⁸⁷) are micro-pipetted ontothe wax divides 18 using an X-Y-stage and a syringe pump to define aselected number of individual liquid Rb⁸⁷ segments or balls 20 as shownin Fig. 1 b. The amount deposited is controlled using eithermicropipette or a syringe pump. Typical amounts are from 100 microliters(μl) to several milliliters (ml) (rubidium is molten when this volume ismeasured). In principle, one can use more precise micropipettes tohandle tinier quantities of rubidium. The amount of rubidium that needsto be deposited depends on the application and the design of the vaporcell. One may control the quantity of liquid rubidium to be depositedprecisely in this way. This is in contrast to bulk rubidium deliverymethods where the amount of rubidium cannot be controlled tightly. TheX-Y stage enables automation of the process (as against manuallydepositing the rubidium). The rubidium is micropippeted in a liquidstate at a temperature at between 45 C. and 55 C. (the melting point ofrubidium is 39 C.).

Turning now to FIG. 1 c, a wax enclosure is formed by enclosing orsandwiching the Rb⁸⁷ segments 20 between upper and lower indented, waxlayered wafers.

An upper indented, wax layered wafer assembly 22 also comprises asubstantially identical silicon dioxide (SiO₂) layer 10 deposited on a4-inch silicon handle wafer 12 that has a plurality of evenly spacedthrough-wafer holes (or vents or vias) 14 etched through using deepreactive ion etching (DRIE) on the back side to serve as etch holes forthe release process. Upper wafer assembly also has substantiallyidentically spaced indentations or divides 18 separated by sidewalls 19having the same selected spacing and orientation as for the lower waferassembly described above and identified (in FIGS. 1 band 1 c) as 24.

The lower wafer assembly 24, as seen in FIG. 1 c, carries the Rb⁸⁷segments in the divides. In a sealing step, the wax layers of the upperand lower wafer assemblies are heat sealed to one another at the wax'spre-defined softening temperature to ensure that the Rb⁸⁷ is completelyenclosed by the wax layers of the upper and lower layered waferassemblies 22, 24.

The wafer-sandwich is then dipped in HF to release the sealed,multi-segment wax enclosure 26 from the silicon handlers 12, as bestseen in Fig. 1 d. Chemical exposure to HF for extended intervals (e.g.,overnight) shows no damage to the wax enclosure 26 or the enclosed Rb87segments 20. Finally, individual Rb-wax micropackets are formed bysegmenting or dicing the wax enclosure 26 to provide separate Rb-waxmicropackets 30.

Alternative embodiments of the method are also possible to fabricatealkali metal-wax micropackets. Another simple method would be toevaporate a thin layer of wax directly on precise quantities of alkalimetals or dip coating alkali metals by rapidly immersing in molten wax.

The use of alkali metal-wax micropackets to enclose alkali metals hasthe following advantages. First, it allows for the formation of purealkali metal inside the final vapor cells. This is extremely importantand currently the main limitation for the long term stability of CSACs.Second, it results in precise amounts of alkali metal needed for eachtype of vapor cell. This ensures reproducibility in the vapor cellperformance and keeps the wastage of expensive alkali metals to aminimum. Third, the ease of fabrication and handling holds potential forinexpensive fabrication of CSAC vapor cells. The Rb-wax micropackets 30enable decoupling of MEMS fabrication for the rest of the vapor cell(such as cell fabrication, anodic bonding and buffer gas filling) fromthe stringent requirements of handling alkali metals. Additionally, forapplications outside of CSAC, the use of Rb-wax micropackets is an easy,inexpensive and safe way for packaging and transporting precise amountsof pure alkali metals.

Once the micropackets 30 are made, all the processes occur at roomtemperature, and so the rubidium is in the solid phase.

A simple method of forming vapor cells using the Rb-wax micropackets isillustrated in FIGS. 2 a-2 c. First, as best seen in FIG. 2 a, asubstantially planar Pyrex wafer 40 is bonded with a low stress silicon(Si_(x)N_(y)) substrate 42. The wafer 40 includes a plurality of spacedcavities 44 formed by bulk-micromachining of the silicon 42 and anodicbonding of the thermally matched Pyrex wafer 40 in an ambientenvironment that contains the required composition and pressure ofbuffer gases.

As best seen in FIG. 2 b, a Rb-wax micropacket array 48 is thermallybonded to the silicon nitride (Si_(x)N_(y)) membrane side 42 of awafer-scale cavity array. The enclosed Rb 20 is released into the cavity44 by laser ablating the Si_(x)N_(y)membrane 42 through the glass wafer40. The laser 50 used for ablation is mounted on an X-Y stage toprecisely ablate the wax in each micropacket 30 so as to release the Rbin a controllable way. Laser ablation thus offers a fast and effectiveway of delivering precise amount of Rb into the vapor cells 52.

The time history for laser ablation using a Coherent™ 355 nm lasersystem is shown in Table 1. For large ablation times (>5 sec), the waxis ablated all the way through and results in the Rb to reactimmediately with the atmosphere. For ablation times of ˜4 sec, the Rb isreleased and the wax forms a coating around the cavity. Although we havenot verified the effects of the wax wall coating, we can conjecture thatby carefully optimizing the ablation times and laser parameters, it ispossible to form a thin uniform coating along the walls of the cavitythat would result in increasing the coherence lifetimes of the alkalimetals inside the vapor cells formed using this process. TABLE 1 Timehistory of laser ablation and its effects. Parameters of Coherent 355 nmlaser system with 20 A laser current: Pulse rate 15 kHz, Energy = 110 μJTime (sec) Cell Status 2-3 Rb released, no wax coating.  4 Rb released,cell coated with wax. >5 Wax drilled through, Rb reacts to form RbOH andRb₂O.

The correct specification of the ambient environment should include thecomposition of the gases used and the total pressure at a giventemperature. A typical ambient condition used in vapor cells in CSAC isneon gas or argon gas at 10 torr of pressure at 25 degree C. In theexemplary embodiment xenon gas is used at 10 torr pressure. Again, thismay vary from sub-milli-torr pressure to several 10s of torrs ofpressure, depending on the design of the vapor cell for use in specificCSACs.

The quantity or amount of Rb released into the cell has not beenmeasured or controlled as of this writing, but a current estimate isthat more than 90% of the rubidium segment 20 in the wax packet 30 isreleased into the cavity 44 of the vapor cell 52 as a result of theablation process step.

FIG. 3 a shows an SEM of a vapor cell 52 fabricated using Rb-waxmicropackets 30. FIG. 3 b(i) shows a schematic cross sectional view andFIG. 3 b(ii) is a photograph of a vapor cell 30 from the Pyrex side.

The vapor cells (e.g., 30) may range from 1 mm×1 mm×500 microns(length×width ×height) to 5 mm×5 mm×1 mm. The cavities are defined insilicon using silicon micromachining but are enclosed using Pyrex.

Alternative embodiments include other methods of forming vapor cellsfabricated using alkali-metal wax micropackets 30 that are suitable foruse in CSACs. One method is to enclose the alkali metal-wax micropacket30 inside a thin glass tube 60 or hollow core fibers as shown in FIGS. 4a-4 d. This process is simpler than methods without the use of waxmicropackets 30, since as the glass vapor cells can be formed by pumpingdown and backfilling with the required buffer gas pressure andcomposition. Individual cells 64, 66 are readily isolated by glassblowing (or laser fusing).

FIG. 5 shows vapor cells 64, 68 enclosing Rb⁸⁷-wax micropackets 30within buffer gas at a pressure of 10 torr. The cells 64, 68 shown inFIG. 5 have a total volume of between three and six cubic mm.

It will be appreciated by those having skill in these arts that thepresent invention makes available a method of making alkali-metal vaporcells by first forming microscale-wax micropackets with alkali metalsinside. This invention allows fabrication of vapor cells at low cost andin a batch fabricated manner. The method reduces the cost of makingchip-scale atomic clocks and allows shipping of alkali vapor packetswithout contamination issues, thereby creating a technology foralkali-metal vendors to provide small packets of alkali metals.

Having described preferred embodiments of a new and improved method, itis believed that other modifications, variations and changes will besuggested to those skilled in the art in view of the teachings set forthherein. It is therefore to be understood that all such variations,modifications and changes are believed to fall within the scope of thepresent invention as defined by the appended claims.

1. A method for forming alkali-metal vapor cells, comprising the method steps of: (a) providing an alkali metal segment; (b) forming a wax covered micropacket enveloping said alkali metal segment and sealing said metal segment inside the wax micropacket's outer surface;
 2. The method of claim 1, further including: (c) providing a substrate made from a silicon-containing compound; (d) forming at least one cavity in said substrate; (e) bonding said substrate to a top cover; and (f) attaching the micropacket to a bottom surface of the substrate in alignment with the cavity.
 3. The method of claim 2, further including: (g) positioning a laser over selected cavities; and (h) ablating a selected micropacket through its corresponding cavity with a beam from said laser.
 4. The method of claim 1, further including: (c) providing a solid, gas impermeable tube segment made from a silicon-containing compound, said tube having a hollow interior or lumen; (d) inserting the micropacket into said tube lumen and sealing the micropacket into the tube segment.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b), forming a wax covered micropacket with said alkali metal segment inside the wax micropacket's outer surface, comprises the following method steps: (b1) providing a first silicon wafer or substrate handler; (b2) etching a plurality of holes or vias through said wafer; (b3) Applying or growing an SiO₂ layer onto a selected surface of said wafer; (b4) depositing a wax layer onto said SiO₂ layer; (b5) adjusting the temperature of said wax layer to the wax-softening temperature for said wax layer to provide a soft wax surface; (b6) impressing an indentation into said wax surface; and (b7) depositing or placing a segment of alkali metal into said indentation.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein step (b) further comprises the following method steps: (b8) providing a second silicon wafer or substrate handler; (b9) etching a plurality of holes or vias through said second wafer; (b10) Applying or growing an SiO₂ layer onto a selected surface of said second wafer; (b11) depositing a wax layer onto said second wafer's SiO₂ layer; (b12) adjusting the temperature of said second wafer's wax layer to the wax-softening temperature for said wax layer to provide a soft wax surface; (b13) impressing an indentation into said second wafer's wax surface; (b14) placing said first and second wafers in a parallel juxtaposition with the indentations of the first wafer aligned with the indentations of the second wafer; (b15) adjusting the temperature of said first and second wafers to a temperature near the wax softening temperature; and (b16) sealing said first wafer's wax layer to said second wafer's wax layer, thereby encapsulating said segment of alkali metal within a wax covering.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein step (b) further comprises the following method steps: (b17) releasing said wax encapsulated segment of alkali from said first and second wafers to form a wax covered micropacket.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b), forming a wax covered micropacket with said alkali metal segment inside the wax micropacket's outer surface, comprises evaporating a layer of wax directly onto the outer surface of an alkali metal segment.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b), forming a wax covered micropacket with said alkali metal segment inside the wax micropacket's outer surface, comprises dip coating an alkali metal segment by rapid immersion in molten wax.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein step (f) bonding said substrate to a top cover, comprises anodically bonding said substrate to a low-stress Si_(x)N_(y)membrane in a vacuum chamber.
 11. A method for making a transportable and stable encapsulated alkali metal segment having a selected mass of alkali metal, comprising: (a) providing a gas and moisture impermeable receptacle including a supportive surface adapted to receive the alkali metal segment, said receptacle being made from a substantially inert malleable material; (b) dispensing a selected quantity of liquid alkali metal into said receptacle using a pipette or a similar liquid dispensing instrument adapted to precisely control the quantity of liquid metal dispensed; (c) allowing said liquid alkali metal to cool, whereupon the phase of the metal changes and said liquid metal solidifies into a solid alkali metal segment; and (d) encapsulating said selected quantity of liquid alkali metal in a gas and moisture impermeable covering that is compatible with said receptacle's substantially inert malleable material.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein step (a), providing a gas and moisture impermeable receptacle including a supportive surface adapted to receive the alkali metal segment, comprises: (a1) providing a first silicon wafer or substrate handler; (a2) etching a plurality of holes or vias through said wafer; (a3) Applying or growing an SiO₂ layer onto a selected surface of said wafer; (a4) depositing a wax layer onto said SiO₂ layer; (a5) adjusting the temperature of said wax layer to the wax-softening temperature for said wax layer to provide a soft wax surface; (a6) impressing an indentation into said wax surface.
 13. The method of claim 11, wherein step (d), encapsulating said selected quantity of liquid alkali metal in a gas and moisture impermeable covering, comprises: (d1) providing a second silicon wafer or substrate handler; (d2) etching a plurality of holes or vias through said second wafer; (d3) Applying or growing an SiO₂ layer onto a selected surface of said second wafer; (d4) depositing a wax layer onto said second wafer's SiO₂ layer; (d5) adjusting the temperature of said second wafer's wax layer to the wax-softening temperature for said wax layer to provide a soft wax surface; (d6) impressing an indentation into said second wafer's wax surface; (d7) placing said first and second wafers in a parallel juxtaposition with the indentations of the first wafer aligned with the indentations of the second wafer; (d8) adjusting the temperature of said first and second wafers to a temperature near the wax softening temperature; and (d9) sealing said first wafer's wax layer to said second wafer's wax layer, thereby encapsulating said segment of alkali metal within a wax covering.
 14. The method of claim 11, wherein step (b), dispensing a selected quantity of liquid alkali metal, comprises dispensing liquid rubidium (Rb) at a dispensing temperature greater than 39 degrees Celsius.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein step (b), dispensing a selected quantity of liquid alkali metal, comprises dispensing liquid Rb⁸⁷ at a dispensing temperature between 45 degrees Celsius and 55 degrees Celsius.
 16. A gas and moisture impermeable micropacket or carrier adapted to preserve and transport an alkali metal segment, comprising: a segment of alkali metal; and an encapsulating outer coating of wax completely enveloping and sealing said segment of alkali from air or other reactive environments.
 17. The micropacket of claim 16, wherein said wax is formulated to receive and support said alkali metal when said alkali metal is dispensed in a liquid state and at a temperature greater than 39 degrees Celsius.
 18. The micropacket of claim 17, wherein said alkali metal is dispensed in a liquid state in an amount within the range of 100 microliters (μl) to several milliliters (ml). (rubidium is molten when this volume is measured).
 19. The micropacket of claim 16, wherein said alkali metal is rubidium.
 20. The micropacket of claim 19, wherein said alkali metal is Rb⁸⁷. 